From the Pulpit: A reminder of what the Christmas season is all about

Wednesday

Jan 8, 2014 at 5:00 PM

By Young Ok ParkFor The Journal-Standard

It was a Christmas day about 20 years ago. I had been on HWY 94. I was to join my clergy friends and their families for a year-end getaway. The temperature wasn't too bad on that Christmas morning, a little above the freezing temperature. The sun was shinning, making the winter scenery look beautiful. In my car I was relaxed and enjoying the sky, the sun and the tranquility. While driving, I noted steam coming up from the front of the passenger's seat. Immediately I pulled my car to the shoulder. I sniffed. There was no odor. Oh, believe me, I did not have any knowledge of an automobile -its parts, functions, and system - and I still don't. I also noted greenish liquid on the floor out of nowhere. Where did it come from? I asked myself. I didn't hear anything. I didn't do anything. My internal reasoning didn't help me at all. I unlocked the hood, that I knew how to. I got out of the car and opened the hood. I might have looked like I knew what I was going to do. No! I didn't have any idea what to look for, what to touch. All the stuff revealed underneath the hood only perplexed and confused me. I got in the car. I got out of the car. I did this several times before humbly acknowledging that there was nothing that I could do and closed the hood.

Prayerfully I started the car, and it got started. Not knowing whether the car would run or not, if so then how far, I looked straight carefully. Thank God ahead of me was a road sign telling me that two miles ahead was an exit. I drove my car on the shoulder about 20 mph. I took the exit. Instantly, I had to make a turn, either right or left. Even though I'm left handed and would usually prefer to make a left turn, in this emergency, however, I didn't have any extra time to think or to drive another .05 miles to make a leftward curve. Upon turning to right, next to me on my right side was a gas station.

In this rural area I had never been to before, the gas station was open on that Christmas Day. I walked in the small store and talked to the manager about the problem. Oh, by the way, this was before the digital era - saying this I feel really old. The manager made several phone calls to find a place where my car could be taken to be fixed immediately. No place was open. The manager's suggestion for me was to leave the car there and ask someone to come and pick me up to where we were gathering and bring me back there on her/his way back home. His suggestion sounded quite complicated. For some reason, it was not an option for me yet. I still wanted to find a way to have my car fixed and drive it. I thanked the gas station manager for his kind help.

Feeling helpless at the same time, I walked out of the store. Then I saw a police officer walking toward where I was standing. I said to him, "Excuse me, sir, can I talk to you for a minute?" He came over to me to listen. I explained to him what happened to my car. He instantly took a look at my car, then said to me, "I can fix it, but you're not going to have heat in your car." I said, "I'd rather drive my car today." He said, "I'm off duty and was on my way home. I'll go home, change my clothes, and come back with my tool box." The police officer came back and fixed my car in about 45 minutes. I couldn't thank him enough. I said, "Can I pay you?" He said, "No." I asked for his business card and got it. Upon returning home after the eventful trip and gathering with clergy friends and families, I sent him a thank you note. I also included him in my Christmas letter/card each year for more than 15 years since then.

This is one of my many precious Christmas stories that really tells me and reminds me of what Christmas is all about: The incarnate love in the human flesh for each and every human being in the whole world. The love that embraces all and encompasses all, with no conditions or questions. Not only once but over and over and over again. That incarnate love has never said, "I'll come to you once a year on December 25." That incarnate love, Emmanuel - God-with-us-always, says, "Fear not, for I am with you" and "Love one another." Make each day a Christmas for those around you, by being loving and gentle, kind and generous, thankful and encouraging, patient and peace-making. This will make a huge difference in this world where people are deeply wounded and hurting badly each day. Oh, don't forget to thank God all the time for the gift of God in you and with you all the time.